With its network in Cebu in "a very mature state," Globe Telecom said large new investors like SM and Mactan Newtown would benefit from high grade services as the telco completes a $700 million national network modernization.

"To us, Cebu is business as usual. We have to be there in a big way. We will be there in fiber optics as well," said Globe Telecom Ernest Cu yesterday in a press conference following the annual stockholders meeting, where Globe reported record-breaking growth of 6 percent in service revenues amid an ambitious "transformation" of its system across the country.

"We will be covering Newtown with fiber optics capacity," said Cu, referring to the new 20-hectare Megaworld township rising in Mactan, when asked about the telecom's response to rapid expansion of retail and real estate projects in Cebu.

"We are going to be there for any major development in Cebu including the reclamation project of SM," he said of the ongoing Seaside City commercial construction in the South Road Properties.

This year, Globe will continue to roll out 4G and LTE capacity and end up with close to 800 cell sites, with priority areas of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, said Cu.